The case of the Kononovich brothers (Mikhail and Alexander) has entered a new and deeply alarming phase, revealing with even greater clarity the nature of their persecution by the reactionary Ukrainian regime.
After years of detention, surveillance, and legal harassment, a recent development has not brought relief—but intensified danger. The sudden removal of their electronic monitoring devices, reportedly carried out without a corresponding judicial decision, has not meant freedom.
On the contrary, it has placed them in a legal and physical grey zone, where they are neither formally under supervision nor protected by any clear legal status. In such conditions, the absence of control does not signify liberty—it signals exposure.
This move effectively strips away even the minimal procedural framework that previously existed. It leaves them vulnerable to arbitrary actions, without accountability or traceability. The risk is not abstract. It is immediate and concrete: forced mobilization, re-arrest under new charges, or even disappearance under circumstances that could be easily obscured. Their own warnings reflect precisely this reality—a situation in which the line between legal persecution and extrajudicial danger becomes dangerously blurred.
At the same time, indications have emerged that new, more severe accusations may be prepared against them, including charges that could lead to dramatically harsher sentences. This suggests that the case is not being resolved, but escalated.
In their latest appeal, the Kononovich brothers warn that they may not even survive to see their upcoming trial, describing their situation as extremely dangerous and unstable. They report that, following the removal of their monitoring bracelets, they are effectively left without any legal protection or oversight, creating conditions in which anything could happen to them without accountability. They express fear of possible disappearance, forced mobilization, or violent provocation, stressing that their lives are now directly at risk.
At the same time, they claim that new, more severe charges—potentially including high treason—may be prepared against them, which could lead to long-term imprisonment. In this context, they appeal to the international community, political organizations, and supporters to intervene, raise awareness, and help ensure their safety before it is too late.
The Kononovich brothers, known for their involvement in the communist youth and anti-fascist movement in Ukraine, were first detained in March 2022 amid a broader wave of repression carried out under the Zelensky government, targeting opposition forces and left-wing political activity following the escalation of the war.
Accused of crimes linked to “state security,” they have consistently rejected the charges, maintaining that they are being persecuted for their political beliefs and organizational activity rather than any concrete criminal actions.
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